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of his friend; and their imaginations being so vividly recalled to the scenes of youth, they conducted themselves, in some instances, so much like schoolboys, that they were once more joint tenants of the same narrow apartment, but that--the watchhouse.

Donald of course went to see his friend act, and well, indeed, might he have been delighted, for this occasion was, in fact, the very first on which he had ever entered the doors of a playhouse.

CHAPTER XII.

Death of Dr. Elliston-Elliston's letter to his wife-Strange reports" The Curfew"-Margravine of Anspach—Private Theatricals-Critique on the genius of Mr. YoungElliston and his landlady at Liverpool-A cozy evening-Hob and Knob "Star" and Star-Country theatres-Whimsical occurrences and expedients-"The Castle Spectre”— An aged company-An actor mystified-Elliston in his element-Humorous adventure with a French prisoner.

THE timely success which had attended the production of "The Honeymoon," induced the directors of Drury Lane theatre to apply again to their piles of neglected MSS., and, like other coquettes, to turn their second thoughts towards some of those offers, they had too unceremoniously slighted in past

seasons.

Rejected comedies, mouldy by despair, and we may truly say, torn by rough usage, were ogled from their obscurity; and as the frail managers contemplated the doleful ditty—

"Any one of these, which I slighted before,

Will do very well for me,"

they fortunately fixed on a second of the Tobin fa

292

THE CURFEW."

mily, and the "Curfew" became, at once, the reigning favourite.

This drama having been forthwith put into rehearsal, was advertised for representation for the 14th of February (1807); two days previous to which, it was announced as indefinitely postponed, owing to the sudden absence of Mr. Elliston, who was to have performed the principal character.

The Master of Sidney College (Dr. Elliston) had been for some weeks in declining health, and his illness having now become alarming, his nephew received intelligence which induced him at once to proceed to Cambridge.

Elliston found his uncle rapidly sinking, and with no hope of recovery. He was received with great affection by his venerable relative, who, in pardoning his offences, had no slight category to remit ; whilst the exhortation he gave him to honourable conduct, testified the sincerity of his forgiveness.

The Doctor did not survive this interview many days. He died full of honour-in the respect of all men who had value for integrity and well-directed talents.

Elliston, in a letter to his wife, says—

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My uncle—my best friend-expired this morning, and God will bless him! These are moments to awaken the coldest spirit to expressions of fervent gratitude, and to a full sense of departed goodness-they are too common-and little respect is

DEATH OF DR. ELLISTON.

293

therefore due to feelings of so ordinary a nature as mine; but from the bottom of my heart I pray for him, and believe he will be happy.

"Two days before my uncle died, he put a passage from Dr. Johnson into my hands, which out of veneration to both I transcribe to you :

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Many things necessary are omitted, because we vainly imagine they may be always performed; and what cannot be done without pain will for ever be delayed, if the time for doing it be left unsettled, No corruption is great but by long negligence, which can scarcely prevail in a mind regularly and frequently awakened, by periodical remorse. He that thus breaks his life into parts, will find in himself a desire to distinguish every stage of his existence by some improvement, and delight himself with the approach of the day of recollection, as of the time which is to begin a new series of virtue and felicity.'"

The Doctor* directed by will 600l. to be divided equally between his nephews, R. W. Elliston and the son of Professor Martyn. To each of his grandchildren, of which there were twenty, he left 1007., to be paid with accumulation, as they severally attained their twenty-first year. As residuary lega

* Dr. William Elliston, Master of Sidney College, Cambridge, and Rector of Keyston, Huntingdonshire-in the gift of Earl Fitzwilliam-died 11th Feb. 1807, in his 75th year.

294

STRANGE REPORTS.

tees, Elliston and his cousin Martyn received 17007. each.

Out of the late occurrence, some of those wild reports, which, like the rank, fat weed, find root in the thinnest soil, were presently spread through the dramatic circles of the metropolis;-first, that Elliston had been bequeathed 20,000l., and an estate in Huntingdonshire, on condition of his quitting the stage; secondly, that he had repudiated the Muses, and embraced the Fathers-Thalia for St. Chrysostom-the Green-room for the Cloister; and a third rumour, that he was about to found a dramatic college, of which he was to be nominated provost, with power, under a charter, for admitting licentiates, and conferring histrionic degrees! Certainly he returned to London bearing on his brow the very stamp of an epoch-his very step was eventful, and he bore around him an atmosphere of fate.

On the 19th, however, the misty conglomeration of surmises vanished from the public mind, and Tobin's "Curfew" was produced, Elliston having resumed his duties at Drury Lane, by sustaining the principal part in that drama. The "Curfew" was repeated for fifteen consecutive nights, and on a few additional occasions in the season.

Triumphs are met not with in coveys-the plumage which distinguished the "Honeymoon," did not clothe this second flight of the poet; but the "Curfew" was at least successful, and brought money to the treasury.

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